Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1887-12-16
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
Annual Report OF Gen
cral Villas

According TO the annual report OF PoSt-
master-G General Villas there h=r bo-n a marSed
improvement in the affairs Of his depart
uent during the year. The net gain Of revs-
nues over the preceding year Is nearly 5000
600, while the increase OF expenses has been
only 81 200, 900, 20 that the burden OF
$7,O00, 900 which fell on the general
treasury in 1886 has been reduced
to 81 600, 600 for the past fiscal year. In view
of this, after expressing the hop. that the
revenues will not D. urthrr crippled by lcgrs-
latiOn, the report SAYS that surplus may Dc
reasonably anticipated IN the coming
year. Although appeals for changes
in the rates matters OF various
kinds are anticipated, the report deprecat.s
any lessening of the rates mt present, but II
adds that the time is probably not distant
when, If the wiSeSt measures Of economy Ia
pursued, the rate of charge upon letters can
be properly lowered TO one cent an ounce. and
some diminishment permitted in the hostages
upon merchandise AMI other matter
although the rates on ali matter ara lower
in this country than III any other II the
distances to which maila5le matter l. trans
ported be taken into account.
The appoint nent OF pnstmaStclN during
the year receives eaI " attention ln the re-
port. The total number 81 co.mniss."n'
issued were l",G''. OF which 6,N'i
commissions. and 2,5N4 on removals nr
suspensions. Among these were ~ that
came within the Presidential class. In this
class there are =, l49 Pos,master.. and Of the
entire number 3l3 appointed under u former
Administration remain in Office.
In discussing the compensation paid To
PostmaSters. the injustice done - certain
Postmasters of the third class l. referred
to. Instances are noted whore PuStnia~-
tiers of this class. which includes tn
offices that transact business running
from Sl,9OJ to SN,Oh year ar
obliged to pay from 1000 10 Sl.5@ per
i, D,
own attention To the business. although their
salaries do not exceed II 800 year. Thus,
some poStmasters net 5000 or 500 year only
while transactng over S',oD worth or buS'
ness when the pOStma>tcr~ who happen t. do
over s., 900 worth ct business receive 5000 IA
year net.
The report proposes that an ar, hitcct ami
suitable assistants BE- assigned To the Post
Office Department AMI that the Sul plus rev
enueS of the department be used 10 erect suit
able poStotceS i'll cities where tn Govern
ment should own such buildings.
OF the free delivery system the report says
that s'there should be no hesitation in pro
diding every city and town IN the United
States with this service, whose bust
ness interests and local conditions
are such as TO make il of an advantage
compensatOry to its cost The special
delivery system has not commanded any in
crease of Importance, but 1t paid the Gov
eminent $4,000. The delivery boys earned
an average of STOPS for delivering letters
within tvyenty-on minutes, on the average,
after they were received.
One subsidy Is recommended. the payment
of $1,000 or "a, 900 a month for a monthly
service between New York and the River
Plate The Argentine Republic offers 500
600 a year for such a service, and there is a
strong pressure from New York merchants
for the establishment of the lire.
The report earnestly recommends the re-
moval of the prohibition against advertising
and printing on wrappers of third and fourth
class matter, so that they do not extend to
communications of the nature of correspond
ence.